FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW DCC HEALTH SCIENCES BUILDING NEARING REALITY

            DANVILLE, VA, August 8, 2006 – Danville Community College’s new Health Sciences Building will

DCC Board Vice Chair Ann Brown, left, DCC President Dr. Carlyle Ramsey, center, and Dr. Shirley Primiano, Past Chair of the DCC Educational Foundation Board, are all smiles as they accept the $9.7 million gift from the Danville Regional Foundation.	Artist's rendering of the new Health Sciences Building to be located on DCC's main campus at the corner of South Main Street and Kemper Road.

 become a reality sooner than later thanks to a generous $9.7 million donation recently from the Danville Regional Foundation. DCC President B. Carlyle Ramsey said the gift will allow DCC to continue its initiatives to expand educational access in allied health careers, strengthen the area’s workforce, assist with economic development and partner in community development to improve health care services for all citizens.

“I want to express my appreciation to the Danville Regional Foundation board members for their confidence in DCC. This is the largest private gift that the college has ever received and we are truly grateful to the Danville Regional Foundation,” Ramsey said. “This new building will be highly visible to the community, and will represent a state-of-the art facility housing a number of current and emerging programs in support of the region’s health needs.”

Ramsey added that the new two-story Health Sciences Building will be located on the main campus at the southwest corner of South Main Street and Kemper Road. He said the construction project schedule will be on a fast track.

With approximately 27,000 square feet of space, the Health Sciences Building will enable DCC to expand existing programs of study in Practical Nursing, Medical Lab Technology, Medical Terminology/Coding, Pharmacy Technician, and Dental Hygiene, according to Dr. Chris Ezell, Vice President of Academic and Student Services.  Ezell said the expansion will increase the allied health programs’ capacity, allow classes to be taught at a central location, and provide the latest in advanced technology.
        “The new facility will enhance our ability to accommodate the college’s rising enrollment and the need for trained medical professionals within our region,” Ezell explained.

Ezell added the new building will enable the college to add new programs, such as Registered Nursing (RN), Phlebotomy, and Radiology. He said the facility will eventually house the Associate in Applied Science Degree program in Health Sciences, LPN to RN Bridge program, Clinical Skills lab (for Certified Nurse Aide, Licensed Practical Nursing, and Registered Nursing courses), Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting program (classroom and clinical site), phlebotomy, radiology, surgical technology, on-site Medical Lab Technician program, home health aide, and expanded Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training.

In addition to enhancing student learning, the college’s expansion will help the medical community respond to a number of unmet or underserved needs in the region. For example, President Ramsey said DCC will foster partnerships with area dentists and dental hygienists to establish a community dental clinic, which will complement the outreach initiatives offered by Virginia Commonwealth University’s dental school and the Mission of Mercy program.

Ramsey explained that the new Health Sciences Building is part of a long-range plan to address health care needs of the region. He added that the college will create a Wellness/Physical Diagnostics Center in the Womack Building (former Museum of Natural History), located near the new Health Sciences Building. The Wellness/Physical Diagnostics Center will include physical therapy assistant, physical therapy aid, and exercise science programs. The Womack Building will also provide a Fitness Center for students and offer community education and wellness programs.  The Womack Building is currently under renovation.

“This is a great day for DCC and for this region.” Ramsey said. “The Health Sciences Building is well underway to becoming a reality!”